February Funk

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter,
Long ago.

- Christina Rossetti

We had more snow today. Not a lot, but enough to cover the walks and driveways. Have I mentioned how tired I am of winter? I don't usually mind Nebraska winters, but it seems like we've had an unusual amount of snow since New Year's Eve. And it's been cold. Damned cold. I'll be curious to see what our monthly total of precipitation was in January, as compared to previous years. Maybe I need to take a vacation to the tropics. I feel the need for warm sunshine on my face (and arms and legs). Sigh. 41 days 'til spring.

Fresh Beginnings

I have a large oak desk in my office/guest room. We bought it in an antique store in the Haymarket back in 1992 (when we moved from San Diego to Lincoln) with the intention of using it as a dining room table. Silly me. It's far too narrow for that purpose, so it quickly became my computer desk. It's one of my absolute favorite pieces of furniture. Beautiful, rich color and grain. Sturdy. 2 drawers. Plenty of space to spread out. I'm usually not a messy person, but with a large desk it's easy for the stacks to get out of control. This past weekend I was fed-up with the mess and cleared everything off, polished the wood and tidied up. Let's see how long is stays this neat. I'll post a picture after one full week has passed. I hope I don't embarrass myself!

Suite Française

Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky
Fiction
Finished on 2/1/07
Rating: 2.5/5 (Average)







Book Description

By the early l940s, when Ukrainian-born Irène Némirovsky began working on what would become Suite Française—the first two parts of a planned five-part novel—she was already a highly successful writer living in Paris. But she was also a Jew, and in 1942 she was arrested and deported to Auschwitz: a month later she was dead at the age of thirty-nine. Two years earlier, living in a small village in central France—where she, her husband, and their two small daughters had fled in a vain attempt to elude the Nazis—she’d begun her novel, a luminous portrayal of a human drama in which she herself would become a victim. When she was arrested, she had completed two parts of the epic, the handwritten manuscripts of which were hidden in a suitcase that her daughters would take with them into hiding and eventually into freedom. Sixty-four years later, at long last, we can read Némirovsky’s literary masterpiece.

The first part, “A Storm in June,” opens in the chaos of the massive 1940 exodus from Paris on the eve of the Nazi invasion during which several families and individuals are thrown together under circumstances beyond their control. They share nothing but the harsh demands of survival—some trying to maintain lives of privilege, others struggling simply to preserve their lives—but soon, all together, they will be forced to face the awful exigencies of physical and emotional displacement, and the annihilation of the world they know. In the second part, “Dolce,” we enter the increasingly complex life of a German-occupied provincial village. Coexisting uneasily with the soldiers billeted among them, the villagers—from aristocrats to shopkeepers to peasants—cope as best they can. Some choose resistance, others collaboration, and as their community is transformed by these acts, the lives of these men and women reveal nothing less than the very essence of humanity.

Suite Française is a singularly piercing evocation—at once subtle and severe, deeply compassionate and fiercely ironic—of life and death in occupied France, and a brilliant, profoundly moving work of art.

As I finished the last page of this novel, my first reaction was that of sadness. Of course a story about the horrors of any war is sad, but that wasn’t it. I was sad because I didn’t love it. This is a poignant first-hand narrative that should have moved me in the same manner Eli Weisel’s Night and Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief moved me. Instead of shedding tears for the tragic story depicted in Némirovsky’s drama, I felt nothing but relief that I had finally finished reading it.

I rarely ever take the time to read the ancillary material included in a book. (Generally speaking, the novels I tend to read don’t ordinarily include additional material other than, perhaps, an introduction.) However, after reading the publisher’s blurb on the inside jacket, I was compelled to learn more about Némirovsky’s personal story. I started with the Translator’s Note, quickly flipping to the back of the book where I went on to read the Preface to the French Edition (a nine-page history of the author's life, leading up to her deportation to Auschwitz in 1942). I decided to wait to read the two Appendices after completing the novel, just on the chance I might come upon a spoiler. When I did finally read them, I was intrigued by Némirovsky’s notes, which include details of the situation in France (in 1941), as well as her ideas for Suite Française. Fascinating material, particularly those on her writing process. Appendix II is a compilation of Némirovsky’s correspondences (and those of her husband’s, after her arrest). Heartbreaking letters.

Unfortunately, the novel failed to evoke the same emotions I felt while reading about the author’s personal story. Némirovsky peoples the first section of her book with an incredibly large cast of characters. I struggled to keep track of their individual stories and relationships, anticipating how their lives might later intersect, growing more frustrated as I continued to read, losing track of who was who, wishing I had made some sort of a character list.

I’m not sure when I first heard about this novel. Perhaps it was when I read Bookfool’s glowing review, which opens with this beautiful passage:

He wrote with a chewed-up pencil stub, in a little notebook which he had against his heart. He felt he had to hurry: something inside him was making him anxious, was knocking on an invisible door. By writing, he opened that door, he gave life to something that wished to be born. Then suddenly, he would become discouraged, feel disheartened, weary. He was mad. What was he doing writing these stupid stories, letting himself be pampered by the farmer's wife, while his friends were in prison, his despairing parents thought he was dead, when the future was so uncertain, the past so bleak?

Both Bookfool and SuziQOregon have written much more enthusiastic reviews that deserve attention. Not one to enjoy being the odd man out, I have to confess I was relieved to read Dovegreyreader’s recent post, which not only reinforces my opinion, but also includes quite a lively discussion (in the comments section) on the merits of the book (and the hype behind it).

Whether or not you choose to read this highly regarded work, be sure to go here to read the back-story to the novel. Quite touching.

iPod: The Missing Manual

iPod: The Missing Manual by J.D. Biersdorfer
Nonfiction
Finished on 1/31/07
Rating: 4.5/5 (Terrific!)





I had to buy a new cell phone this week. I don’t know how long I had my old phone (it was originally my husband’s; he passed it on to me when he got his fancy Treo), but I'm pretty sure we got our money’s worth out of it. It was so old, it didn’t even have a camera. Gasp! But it was time. The screen had died, obviously making it difficult to see my contact list, let alone see who was calling. Since we dropped our land-line a few years ago, my cell phone was no longer a luxury. I relied on it, in spite of the fact that I really don’t like to talk on the phone. Well, other than to my parents, husband, daughter, granddaughter (although it’s tough to get a 4-year-old to carry on much of a conversation), and a couple of close friends.

That said, I’d been putting off the new purchase for a few weeks, but finally got over to that big box store (you know, the one where the employees look like they could work at Blockbuster on their lunch hour?) and spent what seemed like hours trying to making sense of all the different phones and companies. I’ve been pretty happy with my current carrier, but considered making a switch if the cost and plan worked to my advantage. I was certain someone would be able to help me sort through all my options. Hello? Does anybody work here? I think I’ve entered the stage of life in which I’m now invisible. Had I walked in with my gorgeous, tall and lanky twenty-something-year-old daughter, swarms of (male) employees would have been jumping over each other, eager to help in any way they could. But no, I was alone. And apparently invisible. After spending over twenty minutes perusing the phones and literature, I finally looked at one of the four salesmen standing directly to my left and said, “Can you please help me?” From there, it was smooth sailing. Well, until I got home and discovered I really don’t know how to use my new phone!

I’ve always resisted new technologies. Back in the late 80’s I never really wanted a computer and told Rod that a word processor would be nice for typing up my chatty letters, but why in the world would I need to get online (remember Prodigy?), let alone use email? I preferred sending and receiving my mail the old-fashioned way, thank you very much. Of course that attitude quickly went by the wayside and I became a huge fan of the ease and speed of email, went on to join several internet-based book groups, started a blog (which quickly multiplied to four!), and upgraded my SLR Canon Rebel to a Fuji Finepix digital camera (my husband still teases me about this since I swore I’d never make the switch from film to pixels!). However, I still don’t have GPS in my car (I’m blessed with a good sense of direction), but have been known to depend on my husband’s (which we nicknamed “Amelia” since she has taken us on the occasional round-about route) when we travel away from home. (I think he relies on his to get him to and from work!) So it probably comes as no surprise that I never really even wanted an iPod. I was perfectly content to listen to the decade-old cassette tapes I made to keep me distracted on long runs. It never bothered me to pack a small duffle bag full of CDs to listen to on my Walkman when we flew across the country on a vacation. I loved my Bose stereo that filled the house with crystal-clear music, one disc at a time. Why would I possibly need an iPod? But, as these things happen, my husband let me borrow his (a first-generation unit with a monochrome screen) and next thing he knew I was hooked (it had me from the moment I discovered the shuffle feature). I learned how to download songs and rip our CDs to my iTunes library, which currently boasts a grand total of 3,560 songs. I’m all set should get stranded in an elevator for 9 ½ days. I may not have enough to eat, but I won’t run out of music!

Fortunately, my new phone comes with a hefty user’s manual, unlike the fancy new iPod I received for my birthday. But lucky me, I received a copy of iPod: The Missing Manual from my husband a few weeks later on Christmas morning. Imagine my enthusiasm as I unwrapped what obviously appeared to be a paperback book (Oh, goody, a book! I love getting books!! I wonder which one it is? Oh. A book about how to use my iPod. Oh. Gee. I’ve never even heard of this book. Hmm. What? Oh, yes! I love it. No, really! How did you know this was something I’d like to read? And I didn’t even have to put it on my Amazon Wish List. Wow. I’m so lucky to be married to such a romantic thoughtful man. I can’t wait to finish what I’m reading so I can start in on this one. Thank you, Sweetie. You’re the best!) Yep, I was pretty certain this would not be anything I’d wind up blogging about, but I admit it, I was wrong. (Yes, Rod. I was wrong.) This is a great book! I read the entire thing, cover-to-cover, Post-It Notes flying about, iPod in hand, iTunes opened on my computer, gushing over dinner about all the cool things I could do with my iPod other than simply listen to music. Of course it plays videos, podcasts, and audio books, but there’s so much more that I was completely unaware of. For instance, I learned how to revert my iPod back to English should someone play a practical joke and set it to a foreign language. (Ever try following a set of menu prompts in Greek or Esperanto?!)

I also discovered that not only can I upload my favorite pictures to the iPod, but I can create a soundtrack, combine the two, hook the iPod up to my tv and, voilà, instant slide show! If I’m out and about and realize I’ve forgotten to bring along a book, I can whip out my iPod and amuse myself with one of the many included games. I especially like Music Quiz (remember Name That Tune?). Of course nobody else can hear the music, so shouting out a random song title is sure to draw attention.

In addition to music, videos, pictures and games, the iPod has a stopwatch, clock, alarm clock, contact list & calendar (in theory I can synch these with those on my computer – haven’t tried it yet, so we’ll see), and a notepad. Very similar to my Hewlett-Packard iPAQ. (Oh, ya. Another bit of technology I swore I’d never need.) It can also be used as a portable hard drive, as well as an audio recording device (this requires the use of a separate microphone). Amazing! How did I ever live without it?!

Like most things in life, there may come a time when my iPod simply refuses to work the way it should. This handy-dandy book explains clearly, step-by-step, exactly what to do. Nice to know I can figure it out on my own. I tend to depend on my husband far too much when it comes to computer-related problems. There’s also a section that describes the plethora of accessories available to run the iPod through your car stereo system or dock it in a fancy system in your home or office.

In addition to the features of the iPod, this book goes into great detail about iTunes, the surface of which I’d only just barely scratched. I learned I can browse my personal library in three different views, change a song’s start and stop time (this is nice if the recording is from a live concert and I want to skip all the chit-chat), edit the information of a particular album (wonderful to FINALLY know how skip all that Christmas music while in the shuffle mode in the middle of summer!), print playlists and create miniature collages of the album covers for custom-made jewel case liner notes, download and subscribe to Podcasts, create an iTunes wish list (that includes the 30-second song preview with the Buy Song button), and finally, for when I have to go out and buy a new computer, deauthorize my old computer since iTunes only allows you to play purchased music on a total of six computers (copy protection is copy protection).

Whether you’re a new iPod owner or simply want to learn more about the available goodies, I can’t recommend this book enough. The author has written an informative yet witty manual that is easy to understand with its large, sharp color screen shots and photographs, divided into useful chapters for quick reference. I can’t imagine ever wanting to create my own podcast, but I think I know better now than to say never. I do know that when I make that technological leap, iPod: The Missing Manual will be the perfect guide to help walk me through the process, step-by-step. Until then, I need to go figure out how to send a text message to my daughter in Italy. Hmmm, I wonder if there’s a Missing Manual for the MOTORAZR V3.

A Month in Review - January

Not bad. Not great. My Chunkster Challenge book took 10 days, otherwise I'd probably have a couple more titles on this month's list. Plus, I finished two yesterday and am about to finish another, so February's list should be pretty decent. Click on the titles to read my review.

The Way the Crow Flies by Anne-Marie MacDonald

Bread Alone by Judith Ryan Hendricks

The Baker's Apprentice by Judith Ryan Hendricks

iPod: The Missing Manual by J.D. Biersdorfer

The Handmaid and the Carpenter by Elizabeth Berg

Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson

Smart Women by Judy Blume

Books Read 4
DNF 3
Male Authors 0
Female Authors 4
New-To-Me Authors 2
Across the Borders 1 (Canada)
Fiction 3
Nonfiction 1
Re-Reads 1
Classics 0
Mysteries 0
Sci-Fi 0
Young Adult 0
Own 4
Library 0
ARC 0
Gifts 2
Keepers 3

Note: Only books completed are counted in the above totals with, of course, the exception of the DNF category.

Which Austen Heroine Are You?

My results:

You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.

Take the Quiz here!

Definitely time to re-read Sense and Sensibility. Then watch the movie. I love Emma Thompson!

Wordless Wednesday

Smart Women...

Smart Women by Judy Blume
Contemporary Fiction
Rating: DNF






Stupid book. Wasted an evening reading a hundred pages before tossing it across the room. I read Summer Sisters several years ago, but don't remember much about it (and it must not have been that good since I don't own a copy).

Behind the Scenes at the Museum

Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
Contemporary Fiction
1995 Whitbread Book of the Year
Rating: DNF




After 50 pages, I tossed this one aside. Didn't care for the narrator or annoying characters.

From the Stacks Challenge - Finished!

Ta-da! I managed to complete this challenge with days to spare. Not too bad considering I didn't start until December. Click on the titles to read my reviews.

The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson (B+)
The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra (C)
The Baker's Apprentice by Judith Hendricks (B-)
Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading by Maureen Corrigan (C-)
A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle (C-)

Unfortunately, all but one of these books is worth keeping. I'm not sorry I read the others; just sorry they weren't as good as I'd hoped.

The Baker's Apprentice

The Baker's Apprentice by Judith Ryan Hendricks
Contemporary Fiction
Finished on 1/22/07
Rating: 2.5/5 (Average)
From the Stacks Winter Reading Challenge #5
2007 TBR Challenge #1



You would think by now I would know better than to get my hopes set too high for the sequel to a book, regardless of who the author is. But no, I still set myself up for disappointment time after time. It's always a bit more exciting to begin reading the sequel to a well-loved novel than simply picking up a new release or highly acclaimed book. With a sequel, you already have a connection to the characters and setting, as well as an admiration for the author's ability to entertain. But unfortunately a book is just a book and there's no guarantee that the follow-up will be as entertaining (or even as well-written) as its predecessor. For example, I loved Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas, but was terribly disappointed with Forever Odd. Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow is an incredible story and, like Odd Thomas, made my Top Ten for the year I read it. However, Russell's sequel (Children of God) failed to hold my interest and I struggled to finish, hoping it would get better the further along I read. Julie and Romeo Get Lucky is another sequel that left me longing for the humor and warmth I enjoyed in Julie and Romeo. Instead it only annoyed me with its silly and repetitious storyline. Bill Richardson's Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast is a delightfully hilarious book, but the sequel (Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast Pillow Book) fell short and wound up in the discard pile.

On the other hand, I loved The Exact Same Moon: Fifty Acres and a Family just as much (if not more) than its predecessor, Fifty Acres and a Poodle. And, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street was just as lovely as 84, Charing Cross Road.

So, after reading Judith Hendricks' Bread Alone for the second time, I was excited to finally read The Baker's Apprentice. I had thoroughly enjoyed Bread Alone and was eager to see what the future held for Wynter, both as a bread baker at the Queen Street Bakery in Seattle and in her personal life with her new love interest. Unfortunately, this was a less-than-lackluster follow-up to Ms. Hendricks' debut novel. Bread Alone is a warm, cozy read full of wonderful descriptions about baking and life in the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, the sequel is less about the goings-on in the bakery and more about the ups and downs of Wynter's love life (which quickly becomes plodding and predictable). I didn't care for the abrupt ending and wonder if the author wrote it in hopes of continuing further with these characters and storyline. Of her three novels, Isabel's Daughter (a stand-alone) is by far my favorite.

There are no guarantees when it comes to the enjoyment of a book, whether it's a stand-alone or a sequel (or a series, but that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish!). So much depends one's mood, the timing of the read, or whether it's been over-hyped. I'll just continue to hope for the best and ignore that irritating little voice that so rudely reminds me that I'm bound to be disappointed.

Coming Attractions

THURSDAY THIRTEEN

Wow! There are so many new books coming out this year. My TBR list just keeps growing! Check 'em out:

1. Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott (available March 20th)

2. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (available May 22nd)

3. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan (available June 5th)

4. The Woods by Harlan Coben (available April 17th)

5. High Profile by Robert Parker (a Jesse Stone/Sunny Randall book; available February 6th)

6. Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland (available May 3rd)

7. Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier (available March 20th)

8. Body Surfing by Anita Shreeve (available April 24th)

9. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult (available March 6th)

10. Dream When You're Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg (available May 1st)

11. The Double Blind by Chris Bohjalian (available February 13th)

12. Invisible Prey by John Sandford (available May 15th)

13. The Face of Death by Cody Mcfadyen (available May 29th)

Extras:

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver (available May 1st)

Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (available Spring 2007)

The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty (available August 7th)

The Handmaid and the Carpenter

The Handmaid and the Carpenter by
Elizabeth Berg
Contemporary Fiction
Rating: DNF





From Publishers Weekly:

Berg's sweetly understated dramatization of the Nativity story casts Mary and Joseph as provincial teenagers who try to honor family tradition in spite of challenging circumstances. Alternating between the voices of the holy couple, Berg relates a romance that blossoms at the wedding of relatives between the 16-year-old carpenter from Nazareth and the comely 13-year-old girl originally from Sepphoris. Mary, dreamy and intractable, already entertains notions of miraculous circumstances surrounding her own birth to her barren mother, Anne. Joseph is instantly smitten and engenders the trust of both families for a betrothal, yet Mary holds back, cherishing a sense of greater destiny. Escaping a near rape by a Greek man by the river, Mary then receives the angel's message that she will bear an extraordinary son, despite never having known a man; the sadly unwed Mary must return to Joseph, who repudiates her until he, too, is visited in a dream by an angel directing him on the honorable course. With Herod's decree that everyone return to their hometowns to register for the census, Joseph and the near-term Mary set off on their arduous and momentous journey to Bethlehem. Berg handles the gospel passages with a tender reverence.

Inconceivable! How is it possible that I not only didn't care for this book, but that I didn't even finish it?! Just shy of the halfway point, I called it quits. It just wasn't doing a thing for me. How terribly disappointing, especially since it was one of my favorite birthday presents this year. Rats! This is the second book by Berg (one of my all-time favorite authors) that has failed to impress me; We Are All Welcome Here was last year’s disappointment. I have read every single novel by this author; in fact, the only thing of hers that I haven't read is a nonfiction work (Escaping Into the Open: The Art of Writing True).

On May 1st, Ms. Berg’s upcoming novel is set to lay down in bookstores across the country. I own every book by this author and rarely wait for the paperback edition. Other than what I can glean from the cover art (a couple in World War II military attire), I know absolutely nothing about Dream When You're Feeling Blue. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but this is one of my favorite periods to read about. Maybe I’ll just have to pay Barnes & Noble a visit and give the first few chapters a read before I decide whether or not I want to spend my money on this one.

Bread Alone

Bread Alone by Judith Ryan Hendricks
Contemporary Fiction
Finished on 1/16/07
Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)





The smell of good bread baking,
like the sound of lightly flowing water,
is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight.
M. F. K. Fisher (1908-1992)

Book Description

The life of 31-year-old trophy wife Wynter Morrison suddenly changes course when her husband announces one evening that their marriage is over. Emotionally devastated and desperate for a change of scenery, Wyn moves to Seattle where she spends aimless hours at a local bakery, sipping coffee and inhaling the sweet aromas of freshly-made bread. These visits bring back memories of her long-ago apprenticeship at a French boulangerie, and when offered a position at the bakery, Wyn quickly accepts -- hoping that the rituals of baking will help her move on.

Working long hours among the bakery's cluster of eclectic women -- Linda, the irascible bread baker; earth mother Ellen and her partner Diane; and Tyler, the blue-haired barista -- Wyn awakens to the truths that she missed while living the good life in Hancock Park.

Soon Wyn discovers that making bread possesses an unexpected and wondrous healing power, helping her to rediscover that nothing stays the same... bread rises, pain fades, the heart heals, and the future beckons.

It’s been over five years since I first read Bread Alone. I enjoyed it quite well (gave it a B+ 7/10 Good rating) and looked forward to reading the sequel (The Baker's Apprentice) when it was published. Of course, that book sat on a shelf for a few years, but I finally decided to add it to my stack for this month's reading selection. As soon as I finished The Way the Crow Flies, I was ready for something light and fluffy. I picked up my copy of The Baker’s Apprentice, settled in with a cup of tea and a warm kitty on my lap. But before I even finished the first paragraph, I set it back down and grabbed my copy of Bread Alone. What a perfect excuse for a re-read. While I remembered the basic premise of the novel, most of the details were long forgotten, which was kind of nice. Felt like I was reading it for the first time. I didn’t want to start in on the sequel with a lot of mental gaps.

Bread Alone is an entertaining “beach read” in spite of the fairly predictable plot. I enjoyed the details about working in a bakery, as well as the romantic subplot. It’s always entertaining to read a book in which the setting is one in which I’m familiar. In addition to having lived in southern California for twenty years, I have also spent a bit of time in the Seattle area, so it was fun to read all the references to both locales. It’s been ages since I’ve tasted a cheeseburger from In-n-Out Burger, admired the beautiful hillsides covered in fuscia bougainvillea, strolled through Pike Place Market, or cruised the San Juan Islands, but I haven’t forgotten how much I enjoyed them. Reading about them is the next best thing. The author even mentions the beach town I grew up in (Del Mar, California). Don’t see that too often in novels.

As much as I love to cook and bake, I have never made a loaf of bread. Well, unless you count all the loaves I’ve made with my bread machine. But I’m pretty sure that doesn’t compare to mixing all the ingredients and kneading the dough by hand. Hendricks includes several recipes and my book is littered with Post-It Note flags. Ever the optimist, I hope to try my hand at at least one or two.

Re-reading a book is always a risk, but this proved to be worth the effort, especially since I wound up enjoying it even more than I did the first time around. The dialogue rings true and flows with ease. Certainly not great literature, but a feel-good beach read that’s sure to tempt anyone to try their hand at baking bread. Or move to the Pacific Northwest! I wouldn’t mind doing both.

I am going to learn to make bread to-morrow. So you may imagine me with my sleeves rolled up, mixing flour, milk, saleratus, etc., with a deal of grace. I advise you if you don't know how to make the staff of life to learn with dispatch.
Emily Dickinson, American poet (1830-1886)

More Snow!

OK. It can stop now. I'm tired of the snow and the cold temps. I'm ready for spring and short sleeve shirts. The static electricity is annoying (one of the negatives of heated seats in my car) and I miss being able to grill outside. We've had three snowfalls in one month, all of which have dumped at least 4-8 inches. This past storm brought 6" of heavy wet snow. Looks pretty from indoors. If it were a bit warmer, I'd head out for a slippery walk on the bike trail, but it's only 23 and since I'm FINALLY over my cold (had it for over 2 weeks!), I better not risk it.




I feel like I've been away from my blog for a long time! Just been taking it easy, curling up with my kitty, sipping tea, trying to get healthy. I have three book reviews to write, as well as a new recipe for my food blog. I'm hoping to get those posted this week.


Oh, and we bought a new SUV! It's a 2006 Nissan Xterra and is quite nice on these snowy days. As much as I love my MiniCooper, it's been a lot of fun driving Rod's new car. Almost makes me want one of my own. Almost.